Apple provides Mac users with built-in software that can manually run Windows on their Mac computer. Boot Camp offers Mac owners the opportunity to boot into Windows, where they then can access programs and features, or play their favorite PC games. Here's how that built-in Boot Camp tool works.
For Mac users, it can be frustrating to feel locked away from certain programs or games due to the MacOS system architecture. Many games and apps are built with Windows in mind, often leaving Mac users wondering if versions of the software will ever be developed for Apple's operating system. With the recent release of Apple's newest version of its OS—MacOS Catalina—all 32-bit applications were marked as obsolete and can no longer run on Mac computers. Despite this change, there is still a way that Mac users can run these and other programs that are typically unavailable on Apple computers.
Using the built-in utility Boot Camp, Mac owners can switch between MacOS and Windows 10 at any point. Through this tool, Mac users can enjoy the best of both worlds and gain access to programs that are specific to either operating system. Apple has made this easy to do by including Boot Camp on every Mac, ensuring that there's no reason to search around or download any third-party software. Best of all, it only takes a few steps to set up Boot Camp and get Windows running on a Mac.
Before running Boot Camp and downloading Microsoft's operating system, users will need to make sure that they've allocated enough space for the program to work. Boot Camp works by partitioning a part of the hard drive on the Mac to allow enough space for Windows to function correctly. The program offers users the option to either split the Mac's hard drive to create this space or use external storage to keep everything separated. Apple recommends that users leave at least 128GB of free space set aside for Windows to download automatic updates.
The easiest way to get Windows running is by downloading a 64-bit version of Windows 10 Home or Windows 10 Pro directly from Microsoft. Boot Camp will use the Windows ISO file to set up the operating system. Once the ISO is ready and the size of the partition is selected, Boot Camp will format the partition or external drive and reboot the system. Now users can simply go through the regular Windows installation process like on any other PC. When installation is complete, the Boot Camp Assistant will reopen and have the user download any other necessary drivers and support software.
With the entire process finished, users can rework their settings and download whatever programs or games that they want to run on Windows. Just remember to make sure that the system meets the requirements of the desired application. Once Windows and MacOS are both installed on the system, Mac owners can boot into either operating system by holding the Option or Alt key during startup and choosing the OS that they would like to use.
Source: Apple
